**3.2 Meat production sector**

Due to the morphology the species (amyotrophic) has not a noticeable meat aptitude; however, there are some breeds with certain muscular development, and consequently they are considered as meat breeds, where their main purpose is to produce kids for slaughtering [2].

The main meat types produced in Spain are:


The world production of goat meat (2016) was estimated by FAOSTAT at 5,621,333 metric tonne (Tm) [3]. The majority is produced in Asia (73.18%), followed by Africa (22.14%), and America (2.26%) according to the previous census distribution. In Europe, production was 98,934 Tm, representing 1.76% of world production. In the cited census, Russia is included by the FAO as a European country, reaching the second position on meat production (18,567 Tm—18.77% of European production) after Greece (21,785 Tm—22.02%). Values for Spanish goat meat production are located after France, Albania, and Romania, representing 9.17% of European production [3].

During the period 1990–2005 according to FAOSTAT, in Spain for each kg of goat meat, between 14 and 16 kg of lamb meat was produced [1]. Production of goat meat for that period ranged from 14,000 to −16,000 Tm versus 211,000 to 232,000 Tm lamb meat produced [3]. The evolution of goat meat in Spain over the last few decades according to a Spanish official database is compiled in **Figure 4**.

Nowadays the ratio has changed to 11.89 kg of ovine for each kg of goat meat produced, according to national data on goat and lamb meat production at 9800 and 117,000 Tm, respectively, in both species (2016). Goat meat production had an increment of 7.3% related to its production on the previous year (2015) according to

**27**

**Figure 5.**

**3.3 Dairy sector**

*The Goat Sector in Spain: Situation, Local Breeds, and Production Systems*

a national database [7]. Eighty-one percent of slaughtered animals came from the

In 2016, goat meat represented 2.9% of the total commercial value of exports and imports of small ruminants (which included live animals and fresh and frozen meat from goat and ovine). The values of exportations reached 8.61 million euros

Total production of 5.6% (519.6 Tm) is commercialized as organic production certification, 66% coming from Andalusia and 26% from Castilla la Mancha. Also, the incorporation of new logotypes as "autochthons breed" (**Figure 5**) is a current initiative applied in the sector to improve commercialization and consumer information [7]. In this sense, there are two types of labels: one common for any species

Spanish data concerning only goat meat consumption is not available because in the national reports values are presented with ovine meat. The consumption of small ruminant meat has declined progressively during the last decade, decreasing

For a promising future for the goat sector in Spain it would be necessary to implement consumer education using awareness campaigns [9]. Those activities would have as foal increase sensibility about goat species and encourage the consumption of this type of meat, which currently is frequently associated with special occasions. Effective strategies to promote the national goat sector would be to transmit to the general public the characteristics, social values, and functions that this species has on national territory, as well as the development of diverse national or international strategies, along with the support and promotion of different

Related to milk production, the situation is very different to meat production.

Thus, there are some really specialized breeds with remarkable milk yields.

commercial category kid, 4% from chevron, and 15% from adult animals. South (Andalusia), Canary Islands, southeast (Murcia), and northeast (Cataluña) are the four regions where more than 60% of the total animals were slaughtered (1,296,981 heads—9842 Tm of goat meat, **Figure 4**). Almost onequarter of goat meat produced was exported (2244 Tm) and the main destinations

were inside the EU (36.7% France, 22.0% UK, and 9.4% Portugal) [6].

from 2.67 kg/person/year in 2006 to 1.55 kg/person/year in 2016 [6].

products according to their quality, characteristics, and origin.

*Logotype "autochthonous Spanish breed: for goat and general". Source: [8].*

and importations represented 1.98 million euros [7].

and another label specific for each species.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82539*
